The lesser-known of Croatia’s coastal cities, marble-polished Split reaps the rewards of the lengthening days of spring. Sunshine flecks the terracotta rooftops and the Adriatic blinks and sparkles in the light. In summer, it's tempting to use the city as a hop-off point for Croatia's splashier islands, but spring's refreshingly cooler days are perfect for city-wandering. Make the most of the quieter, narrow pathways to Diocletian’s Palace, a huge Roman monument that takes up about half of the old town, where you’ll find hole-in-the-wall bars slinging everything from tacos to cuttlefish risotto. For the city's best views, make the trek up Marjan Forest Park, or take a day trip to the teeny-tiny city of Trogir, just outside of Split, where you'll get the winding streets, enclosed within medieval walls, more or less to yourself.

WHEN TO GO

In spring, the water is probably too chilly from the winter to dive in, unless you’re local or very brave, but you won’t be fighting for a table at one of the dinky harbourside cafés. For longer hours of sunshine, book a trip in May, when Croatia's nature is at its freshest and most abundant, and you'll be stretching out in 12 hours of sunshine a day.

The best things to do in Split, Croatia's lesser-known coastal city

From March to May you’re guaranteed to have Comporta’s rather amazing golden sands to yourself (although, apparently the beaches are remarkably empty during the summer too). Comporta itself is a village on the west coast of Portugal, just an hour’s drive south of Lisbon, but when people say Comporta, they tend to be talking about the region: The Herdade da Comporta – a strip of coast that swoops from the Sado Estuary to the sea and encompasses sleepy fishing villages including Pego and Carvalhal. This is where savvy Lisboans and well-connected Parisians own houses, so, join them for a low-key break that could involve surprising vintage interior finds, excellent Portuguese wine (and cheese) from the Alentejo and, fingers crossed, some sunshine too.

WHEN TO GO

There’s a chill in the air in March, but there should be enough sun for long lunches at seafood restaurant Sal on Pego beach, followed by a bracing dip for those that dare. By May, there’ll be full-blown sunbathing opportunities.

A little over a century ago, Henri Matisse arrived on Corsica and got the shock of his life. Amazed at the clarity of the Mediterranean light, he later declared this was where his passion for colour began. Corsica, the 'Isle of Beauty', is only 180km long and 80km wide, but the contrasts are mesmerising. To appreciate the lure of Corsica fully, allow enough time to explore the far corners of the island, from the isolated northern fishing villages of Cap Corse to the beautiful sandy beaches near Porto-Veccio. You'll discover superb hotels, Michelin-starred restaurants and exhilarating watersports.

WHEN TO GO

The loveliest months are June and September, when you avoid the summer onslaught. But you may prefer Easter when a number of unusual religious processions take place (like the famous Catenacciu in Sartène) and the island is quiet.

Where to stay in Corsica

With a laid-back king loosening the bonds of tradition and bringing party-lovers back to Morocco, the windswept fishing port of Essaouira (pronounced 'Esa-weera') - long a favourite refuge for surfers and backpackers - is netting a new kind of guest. Jimi Hendrix spent time here, as did Orson Wells, so culture is high on the agenda.

WHEN TO GO

Essaouira is busy during the World Music Festival in June, when daytime temperatures reach about 30°C. It is better to explore the town in the spring, when it is less crowded and not quite so hot.

Somewhere for the weekend: Essaouira

Situated on the banks of the Rio Tejo, Portugal's capital city offers a number of museums and galleries, an unpretentious atmosphere and a pleasant blend of architectural styles, making it a favourite with many visitors. It has somehow ended up much further down on the "to go" list as British travellers have started to associate Portugal with beach holidays along the Algarve rather than cultural city breaks, but Lisbon has beautiful architecture, brilliant museums and a good, friendly vibe.

City break: Lisbon, Portugal

In recent years, Mallorca has taken on a new, glamorous style: five-star hotels are replacing budget accommodation and the beautiful island of white-sand beaches and soaring mountains is becoming one of the Mediterranean's chicest holiday destinations. Take a vintage train to Mallorca's north-west coast and discover its best-kept secret: the laidback town and port of Sóller.

WHEN TO GO

Mallorca is a very popular summer holiday destination, with most people visiting between April and September. To avoid the crowds, go earlier in spring when the weather is still warm and comfortable and wild flowers abound.

Mallorca's quiet north-east coast

The appeal of Seville, Andalucía's sunny city, lies in its extravagant Moorish architecture and its exuberant street life. There is always plenty going on in Seville's picturesque cobbled streets, from religious processions to fiery flamenco. The city has also seen a resurgence in stylish hotels, from five-stars to rococo boutique properties.

WHEN TO GO

The best times to visit Seville are during the spring and autumn months. The winter is very mild, but the summer is so intensely hot in the city that the only activity you will want to participate in is the siesta.

Seville: Classic vs modern

When Goethe wrote that 'the key to Italy is Sicily', he could just as easily have written that Sicily is the key to ancient Greece. Visit this lush and once prosperous island - the largest in the Mediterranean Sea - and marvel at the finest surviving Doric temples and theatres in the entire ancient Greek world, the setting for much of Homer's Odyssey. As well as being famed for its superlative cuisine, dramatically perched cliff top villages and ancient temples, the island has endless stretches of beautiful beaches.

WHEN TO GO

Go in the spring, particularly in May, when the island looks lush and the water is warm enough to swim in. You don't want to be trudging round the temples in the summer heat.

Those who treat Tunis as merely a gateway to Tunisia's resorts are making a mistake. As well as the labyrinthine ancient Medina, the city's outwardly functional Nouvelle Ville is not unlike Barcelona's Las Ramblas, with its charming, broad pavement shaded by trees. Tunis also boasts many cultural gems, notably the Bardo Museum, which has one of the finest collections of Roman mosaics in the world and the UNESCO World-Heritage protected Medina. Perhaps the most essential cultural visit is to Carthage and its magnificent Roman ruins.

WHEN TO GO

Head to Tunis in late spring as the rainy season will have ended and the weather will be hot and dry, without the stifling humidity of summer. Autumn is also a good time to visit.

The cool, calm waters of the Turkish Mediterranean are ideal for a relaxing sailing holiday - with nothing on the agenda but swimming, sunbathing, eating and hopping ashore for a spot of sight-seeing. Although much of the coast has been invaded by package tourists, there are still a number of unspoilt areas where you will find ruins from ancient civilisations and a more peaceful way of life.

WHEN TO GO

Summer is the most popular time, but it can also be painfully hot. Go in spring for mild, sunny weather and for a chance to discover the Greek and Roman ruins at Ephesus in a less-harsh sun.